By CASEY NEILL
A DOVETON man faces 57 charges over a string of water meter thefts in Greater Dandenong and Casey.
Greater Dandenong Tactical Anti-Crime Team (TACT) Constable Andrew Bierwirth said police recovered the devices from metal recycling yards where they had been sold for scrap.
“Some of the charges go back to the end of February,” he said.
“The water meters have a serial number on them. From speaking to South East Water, they were able to tell us the location that they’d been installed.
“Then we could go and match to theft reports.”
Police said factory and warehouse managers had been arriving at work to find they had no water because their meters had been stolen. They then had to send staff home for the day without pay.
South East Water asset creation general manager Charlie Littlefair said 87 customers had reported their water meter stolen since 1 January.
There were 184 meters stolen in the South East Water area last year.
The charged man was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 23 May.
